Entropy: An Architects' Sisyphus

    Entropy is the principle that every natural system will trend from a state of order to disorder. This is due to the universal fact that every system will lose energy over time and that process will only increase over time. The idea is that the loss of energy to maintain order in a system will result in a system in disorder. Some examples include the lifecycle of stars, Weather systems on Earth (tornados), nuclear reactions, etc. This line of thought and investigation has led to what is known as the ‘Chaos Theory’. It was in my own exploration of this theory that I began to ponder the role of the architect within this universal force. The theory also states that a system will stay in order as long as the loss of energy is replaced so that the whole exchange stays net neutral. 

    

    So, we have developed systems that pump the appropriate amount of energy into the system so that the gradual loss of energy is near nonexistent. We have pretty good control over this when it comes to systems for heating and cooling within our buildings. We even have successes with using natural strategies to work with our systems so try to limit the amount of energy put into the system. We have found success in resisting the gradual loss of energy in smaller scaled problems, but how do we solve the issues that form resilient architecture? Adaptive strategies have begun to tackle the issue of resiliency against nature, but to what level of degree have we had success? With as much development as we are doing with technologies, we still see issues of erosion and corrosion. At every scale of a project we are fighting the entropy of the building tectonics. Whether is be the gradual pull of gravity on the steel large span member, or the crumbling of a stone wall/foundation due to erosion factors we will forever face challenges that will continue to grow toward chaos. How do we successfully design to resist this? 

    

    Looking into the most complex display of entropy, the human psychosocial response, there is still an ability to track and measure the degree of loss of energy within a social system. Look at protests withing the last decade. Tensions build due to the gradual loss of order until one day the system passes the threshold of loss and spirals into chaos and the next thing you know people are destroying their own community. Any approach to a social system that tries to maintain order will be seen as authoritarian or utilitarian. In theory, if the right amount of energy is put back into the system when its lost, there will be order. Too much energy into the system will once again begin to put the system into a state of disorder. As the architect, we must make sure we are constantly checking these scales when we are designing high profile projects or urban design. Not saying that the architect is the living tribunal of the universe, but sometimes it sure feels that way.